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| Thomasina E. Gross plays Eartha Kitt |
By Darlene Donloe
Thomasina E. Gross is set to dazzle audiences as the legendary Eartha Kitt in "An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute" at the Velvet Martini Lounge. This one-woman cabaret show, conceived, written, and starring Gross, promises to be an unforgettable evening of raw glamour, intimate storytelling, and timeless allure.
With her smoldering vocals, biting wit, and magnetic charm, Gross, a Chicago native, brings Kitt's spirit to life, backed by a sensational live band.
The show, directed by Nohely Quiroz and produced by Keturah Hamilton, Thomasina E. Gross, and Ryan Jordan A-W, features Gross as Kitt, regaling the audience with sultry renditions of "Santa Baby" and "I Wanna Be Evil."
The Velvet Martini Lounge, with its intimate setting and Rat Pack-inspired decor, provides the perfect backdrop for this celebration of Kitt's life and work. The show's costume design, by Ryan Jordan A-W, hair design by Christopher Enlow, and makeup by Darian Darling, will transport audiences to a bygone era of glamour and sophistication.
"An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute" is a testament to Kitt's enduring legacy as a boundary-breaking star of stage, screen, and television. With her fearless and unapologetic portrayal, Gross honors Kitt's memory while showcasing her own impressive talents.
The show has been hailed as "unforgettable" and "sublime," with Gross's performance being praised for its nuance and depth.
I recently caught up with Gross (TEG) to talk about her upcoming Eartha Kitt tribute.
DD: Why did you want to portray Eartha Kitt?
TEG: The moment I found out who she was. I wasn’t just magnetized to her charisma; I learned about what she stood for. It was interesting to see the things she fought for and the gumption to talk about them. She was ahead of her time. She was striking. She wasn’t willing to back down. She was a truthteller. It didn't hurt that wherever I went, people said I looked like a young Eartha Kitt.
DD: Give me one thing she stood for that struck a chord with you.
TEG: Being a survivor and choosing to overcome all odds. The best thing is that the price you pay for being yourself is priceless. She was unapologetic.
DD: How did you prepare to portray her in this tribute?
TEG: I’ve been studying her and emulating her for over 20 years. When I was on Broadway doing 'Mamma Mia,' people told me I had her mannerisms.
They dressed her on Broadway many years ago. They said they see her in me. That was like, wow, to me. I do have some of her in me. The timber of our voices is similar. I watched hours of cabarets, movies, and interviews to get her whole story. The more it unfolded, the more obsessed I got with her. She is a legend. It makes me awestruck. She chose to survive and do what she had to do.
DD: How do you balance capturing Kitt's essence with bringing your own interpretation to the role?
TEG: I try to make her naturalistic. I didn't want to do a caricature. The interesting thing is that when I heard about her background, I noticed many parallels. I would draw from that. I combine the flirty and fun aspects of myself. I always wanted to emulate her. That is the heart of who she was. It’s empowering too.
DD: Can you walk us through your process of conceiving and writing this tribute? What inspired your approach?
TEG: I’ve been trying to write this for 23 years. A piece of me went back and forth with what is most important to say about her story. It was a one-act play, so I wondered how to get it off the ground. I wanted to make it a mini-series. Then I thought about putting it on its feet as a cabaret. What inspired that was that, for some reason, she keeps resurfacing. Younger people only know her from ‘Boomerang; or Cat Woman, or Santa Baby.
DD: Eartha had a whole life.
TEG: There were so many iterations of her. It was important to honor her complete timeline. It brings me such joy. This is the perfect time to do it. Now that I’ve lived a bit of life and been through some things, she is more relatable to me. She is my North Star. I lost my sister on May 31, my birthday, suddenly. The one thing that stuck with me was that three days before she passed away, she said I had to get the show on its feet. She made me promise to do it this year. That was our last conversation. On my birthday, I got an email from Velvet Martini Lounge giving me some dates for the show. My sister, who was always my cheerleader, and Eartha are my North Stars.
DD: How did you choose the songs and monologues featured in the show?
TEG: It was important to give the audience songs that, as soon as they heard them, would know every word and start bopping in their seats. I also wanted to peel back some of that and show more vulnerable parts of her – like her story. She’s from the south and actually picked cotton. She came from poverty and an abusive background. So many things could have taken out her light. But it was her fierce sense of self and her determination to survive.
DD: How was working with director Nohely Quiroz, and what insights did they bring to the production?
TEG: What I love is that it is a collaborative effort from everyone. I have friends who knew Eartha and shared a stage with her. It’s nice to get ideas from everybody. The director helped me get back to the ‘why’ I was doing this in the first place.
DD: How has portraying Eartha Kitt impacted you?
TEG: So far, sitting with her every day and her material makes me more empowered. It’s a pride that I get to amplify her story. I would love to tell her daughter and family that she truly is my North Star, and this tribute is to show how wonderful she was.
DD: What did you learn about Eartha that you didn’t know, or that surprised you about her story?
TEG: So much. Just to know what it must have taken for her to keep going when she was given up at a young age by her own mother. The reasons why her mom had to give her up. She gave her away, but gave her away because she came from a white man. She never knew who her father was.
DD: What makes the Velvet Martini Lounge a fitting venue for this tribute, and how do you think the space enhances the show?
TEG: What I love about the lounge is that it's covered in red velvet and wood. It’s an intimate and cozy setting, which is everything Eartha was. It's a perfect match.
DD: Why should someone see this show?
TEG: Because there are parts of the show, the songs, the catchphrases she’s known for that will bring back the nostalgia. It will show her whole story. Her story hasn't been told properly. I want to gift them with what I know. I’m excited to see where this goes.
DD: What do you hope audiences take away from this tribute about Eartha Kitt's life and legacy?
TEG: One thing I want people to live with is to love yourself and choose yourself so fiercely that you don't abandon yourself. We can get through anything.
An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute is a special cabaret entertainment.
The Velvet Martini Lounge, Upstairs at Vitello’s, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, CA, Tuesday through Thursday, October 7-9, 2025, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for cocktails and dinner, $25, $35, $45, $50, $60.
Estimated Running Time: One hour, 25 minutes.
Consumer Advisory: For audiences age 21 and over.
Optional valet parking (a fee applies) is available at the venue.
The Velvet Martini Lounge has a food and drink minimum of $35 per person. Cocktail attire is encouraged.
Dedicated with love to the memory of Tanya Gross.
An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute includes original monologues and dramatizations based on publicly available information. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Eartha Kitt estate.
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